Evaluating the Impact of Different Tillage Regimes and Nitrogen Levels on Yield and Yield Components of Maize (Zea mays L.)

A field study to evaluate the impact of different tillage regimes and nitrogen levels on yield and yield components of maize (Zea mays L.), was conducted during autumn 2014 at Students Farm, Department of Agronomy, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad. The experiment was laid out in RCBD (Randomized Complete Block Design), with split plot arrangement having three replications. The experiment was comprised of three tillage regimes (Minimum, Conventional and Deep) and three nitrogen levels viz: 100, 200 and 300 kg•ha-1. Urea was used as a source of nitrogen, sulphate of potash as a source of potassium and triple super phosphate as a source of phosphorous. The amount of phosphorous and potash was constant in all the treatments i.e. 125 kg•ha-1 and 100 kg•ha-1 respectively. Results of present study are summarized as yield parameters are significantly affected by different nitrogen levels and tillage regimes. Maximum number of plants at harvest (7.93), number of grain rows per cob (17.70), number of grains per row (34.31), number of grains per cob (678.58), and cob weight (187.50 g) were observed in deep tillage at 200 kg•ha-1 nitrogen application. 1000-grain weight (275.52 g), biological yield (15.66 t•ha-1), grain yield (6.16 t•ha-1) and dried stalk yield (9.91 t•ha-1) were observed maximum in deep tillage at 200 kg•ha-1 nitrogen application. Harvest index significantly affected by tillage regimes and maximum harvest index (39.58%) were recorded in deep tillage which was statistically at par with conventional tillage (38.83%). It was concluded that higher grain yield of maize can be obtained by deep tillage with the application of 200 kg•ha-1 nitrogen application under the prevailing conditions of Faisalabad.

Research on Glutamate Dehydrogenase Activity in Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L) under Different Nitrogen Levels

The experiment of Glutamate Dehydrogenase (GDH) activity in various plant parts under different nitrogen levels in frame culture during the whole period of growth was carried out on campus of Northeast Agricltural University in 1993. The result showed that GDH activity in leaf blades under four nitrogen applied levels rose rapidly to the acme from the seedling to foliage rapid growth stage, then diminished rapidly to the lower level at the latter stage of foliage rapid growth. This level was kept to harvest. GDH activity in roots at each growth stage under all nitrogen levels exhibited little disparity and did not show ostensible regularity of changes. GDH activity in leaf blades was stimulated with nitrogen, however, it reduced with nitrogen fertilizer applying further. GDH activity in leaf blades was the biggest compared with crowns, petioles and roots, which suggested that it could represent the highest enzyme activityof the whole plant.

Effects of Nitrogen Application Levels on Ammonia Volatilization and Nitrogen Utilization during Rice Growing Season

We conducted field trials of rice grown in sandy soil and clay soil to determine the effects of nitrogen application levels on the concentration of NH4＋-N in surface water, loss of ammonia through volatilization from paddy fields, rice production, nitrogen-use efficiency, and nitrogen content in the soil profile. The concentration of NH4＋-N in surface water and the amount of ammonia lost through volatilization increased with increasing nitrogen application level, and peaked at 1-3 d after nitrogen application. Less ammonia was lost via volatilization from clay soil than from sandy soil. The amounts of ammonia lost via volatilization after nitrogen application differed depending on the stage when it was applied, from the highest loss to the lowest： N application to promote tillering 〉 the first N topdressing to promote panicle initiation （applied at the last 4-leaf stage） 〉 basal fertilizer 〉 the second N topdressing to promote panicle initiation （applied at the last 2-leaf stage）. The total loss of ammonia via volatilization from clay soil was 10.49-87.06 kg/hm2, equivalent to 10.92%-21.76% of the nitrogen applied. The total loss of ammonia via volatilization from sandy soil was 11.32-102.43 kg/hm2, equivalent to 11.32%-25.61 % of the nitrogen applied. The amount of ammonia lost via volatilization and the concentration of NH4＋-N in surface water peaked simultaneously after nitrogen application; both showed maxima at the tillering stage with the ratio between them ranging from 23.76% to 33.65%. With the increase in nitrogen application level, rice production and nitrogen accumulation in plants increased, but nitrogen-use efficiency decreased. Rice production and nitrogen accumulation in plants were slightly higher in clay soil than in sandy soil. In the soil, the nitrogen content was the lowest at a depth of 40-50 cm. In any specific soil layer, the soil nitrogen content increased with increasing nitrogen application level, and the soil nitrogen content was higher in clay soil than in sandy soil. In terms of ammonia volatilization, the amount of ammonia lost via volatilization increased markedly when the nitrogen application level exceeded 250 kg/hm2 in the rice growing season. However, for rice production, a suitable nitrogen application level is approximately 300 kg/hm2. Therefore, taking the needs for high crop yields and environmental protection into account, the appropriate nitrogen application level was 250-300 kg/hm2 in these conditions.

Studies on Glutamine Synthetase Activity in Sugar Beet （BetavulgarisL．） under Different Levels of Nitrogen

It was shown from the experiment that glutamine synthetase activity (GSA) in both leaf blades and roots under different nitrogen levels rose rapidly to reach its peak from seedling stage to foliage rapid growth stage and declined to its lowest level at the latter stage of root rapid growth, and then increased slightly. GSA in leaf blades had positive correlation with nitrogen level during the whole period of growth. GSA in roots showed the same tendency as it in leaf blades at the early middle stage of growth, but at the latter stage of growth, no positive correlation was established. GSA in leaf blades was the strongest compared with crowns, petioles and roots, and could represent the highest enzyme activity of the whole plant. GSA had quadratic curvilinear correlation with root yield and sugar production. GSA in leaf blades had significant positive correlation with α-NH2-N at the foliage rapid growth stage.

Effects of Nitrogen Top-dressing Levels on Carbon-nitrogen Metabolism and Yield of Desmodium styracifoliumon

In order to research effects of the nitrogen top-dressing levels on carbon-nitrogen metabolism and yield of Desmodium styracifolium, a field experiment was conducted on the research farm of Guangxi University in 2007. Some physiological indexes and yield ofD. styracifolium were compared among five nitrogen top-dressing levels （0, 37.5, 75.0, 112.5 and 150.0 kg N. hm-2）. Results showed that the nitrogen top-dressing could significantly increase the contents of chlorophyll, soluble protein, sucrose and nitrogen as well as nitrate reducase activity. However, there were no significant differences in most of these indexes under high nitrogen levels. Consistently, there was no significant difference in yield among nitrogen top-dressing levels of 75 kg N.hm-2, 112.5 kg N. hm-2 and 150 kg N-hm-2. Therefore, the optimum nitrogen top-dressing level ofD. styracifolium was 75 kg N. hm-2.

Research on Glutamate Synthase Activity in Sugar Beet(Beta Vulgaris L.)under Different Levels of Nitrogen

The experiment of glutamate synthase activity (GOGATA) in both leaf blades and roots under different nitrogen levels was carried out at Northeast Agricultural University in 1993. The result showed that GOGATA rose rapidly to reach its peak from seedling stage to foliage rapid growth stage, and then declined gradually. GOGATA was enhanced with increasing nitrogen levels and had significant positive correlation with nitrogen levels at the middle stage of growth GOGATA in leaf blades was the strongest compared with crowns, petioles and roots, thus, it could represent the highest enzyme activity of the whole plant. GOGATA had quadratic curvilinear correlation with root yield and sugar production. GOGATA in leaf blades had significant positive correlation with α-NH 2-N at the foliage rapid growth stage while GOGATA in roots existed this relation at the latter stage of growth. GOGATA in roots had significant negative correlation with sugar content at harvest.

Responses of chlorophyll fluorescence and nitrogen level of Leymus chinensis seedling to changes of soil moisture and temperature

Controlled experiment of Leymus chinensis seedlings grown in the environmental growth chambers at 3 soil moisture levels and 3 temperature levels was conducted in order to improve the understanding how leaf photosynthetic parameters will respond to climatic change. The results indicated that soil drought and high temperature decreased the photochemical efficiency of photosystem(F v/F m), the overall photochemical quantum yield of PSII(yield), the coefficient of photochemical fluorescence quenching(q\-P), but increased the coefficient of non-photochemical fluorescence quenching(q\-N). Severe soil drought would decrease F v/F m and yield by 3.12% and 37.04% under 26℃ condition, respectively, and 6.60% and 73.33% under 32℃ condition, respectively, suggesting that higher temperature may enhance the negative effects of soil drought. All the soil drought treatments resulted in the decline in leaf nitrogen content. There was no significant effect of temperature on leaf nitrogen level, but higher temperature significantly reduced the root nitrogen content and the ratio of root nitrogen to leaf nitrogen, indicating the different strategies of adaptation to soil drought and temperature. It was also implied that higher temperature would enhance the effect of soil drought on leaf photosynthetic capacity, decrease the adaptability of Leymus chinensis to drought.

Effects of Different Nitrogen Fertilizer Treatments on Soil Enzymatic Activities in Mulberry Gardens

[ Objective] The present experiment was undertaken to investigate the effects of different nitrogen fertilizer application levels on soil enzymatic activities in mulberry gardens, thus providing reference for rational application of nitrogen fertilizer and production of high-quality mulberry leaves. [Method] Field experiments were conducted with three different nitrogen fertilizer application levels： N, （ 120.75 kg/hm2 ）, N2 （ 172.5 kg/hm2 ）, and N3 （207 kg/hm2 ）. Activities of catalase, urease, acid phosphatase and invertase in soil applied with different amount of nitrogen fertilizer were determined to analyze the correlation between soil enzymatic activities and mulberry leaf yield. [ Result] Activities of urease and invertase in soil were improved with the increasing application level of nitrogen fertil- izer; activities of catalase and acid phosphatase reached the highest in treatment N2. Activities of invertase and urease in soil exhibited significant positive correla- tions; activities of invertase and phosphatase exhibited significant positive correlations; extremely significant positive correlations were found between mulberry leaf yield and activities of urease, phosphatase and invertase in soil. [ Conclusion] Rationally applying nitrogen fertilizer can improve activities of invertase, phosphatase and urease in mulberry gardens ; activities of urease and invertase in soil can be used as indicators to evaluate soil properties in mulberry gardens.

Effect of Corn Stalks Treated with Carbonylamines in Different Concentrate and Forage Rations and Nitrogen Conditions on Rumen Fermentation in Vitro

[ Objective] To investigate the effects of concentrate/roughage ratios and nitrogen levels on in-vitro rumen fermentation of urea-treating corn stalk. [ Method] The concentrate/roughage ratios were 7： 3, 5：5 and 3： 7. The crude protein levels were 11% and 14%. The in-vitro culture time was 2, 4, 6 and 48 h. [ Result] The pH value of broth decreased significantly with the decline in the proportion of roughage （ P 〈 0.01 ） and with the increase in the crude protein levels （P 〈 0.05）. The ammonium nitrogen concentration and acetic acid/propionic acid ratio of the fermen- ted products decreased with the increase in the crude protein levels and proportion of concentrate in diet. The diet with concentrate/roughage ratio of 5：5 and crude protein level of 14% had significantly higher digestibility of dry matter and organic matter than other diets （ P 〈 0.05）. The digesti- bility of organic matter increased gradually with the increasing proportion of concentrate and crude protein level. With the increase in the proportion of concentrate, the microbial protein levels increased remarkably, while the acetic acid/propionic acid ratio declined. [ Conclusion] The concentrate/ roughage ratios and nitrogen levels affect rumen fermentation and microbial growth during in-vitro culture. However, the best supplementary feeding results of urea-treatinq corn stalks can be obtained when the concentrate/rouahaae ratio is below 5：5 and the crude protein level is 14%.

Source-sink relations and responses to sink-source manipulations during grain filling in wheat

The source-sink ratio during grain filling is a critical factor that affects crop yield in wheat,and the main objective of this study was to determine the source-sink relations at both the canopy scale and the individual culm level under two nitrogen(N)levels at the post-jointing stage.Nine widely-used cultivars were chosen for analyzing source-sink relations in southwestern China;and three typical cultivars of different plant types were subjected to artificial manipulation of the grain-filling source-sink ratio to supplement crop growth measurements.A field experiment was conducted over two consecutive seasons under two N rates(N+,150 kg ha^(-1);N-,60 kg ha^(-1)),and three manipulations were imposed after anthesis:control(Ct),removal of flag and penultimate leaves(Lr)and removal of spikelets on one side of each spike(Sr).The results showed that the single grain weights in the three cultivars were significantly decreased by Lr and increased by Sr,which demonstrated that wheat grain yield potential seems more source-limited than sink-limited during grain filling,but the source-sink balance was obviously changed by climatic variations and N deficient environments.Grain yield was highly associated with sink capacity(SICA),grain number,biomass,SPAD values,and leaf area index during grain filling,indicating a higher degree of source limitation with an increase in sink capacity.Therefore,source limitation should be taken into account by breeders when SICA is increased,especially under non-limiting conditions.Chuanmai 104,a half-compact type with a mid-sized spike and a long narrow upper leaf,showed relatively better performance in source-sink relations.Since this cultivar showed the characteristics of a lower reduction in grain weight after Lr,a larger increase after Sr,and a lower reduction in post-anthesis dry matter accumulation,then the greater current photosynthesis during grain filling contributed to the grain after source and sink manipulation.

Influences of alternate partial root-zone irrigation and urea rate on water-and nitrogen-use efficiencies in tomato

Traditional water and fertilizer inputs are often much higher than the actual demands of tomato,which causes a reduction in water-and fertilizer-use efficiencies.To investigate the advantage of alternate partial root-zone irrigation(AI)on water-and nitrogen(N)-use efficiencies of tomato modified by water and N management,taking conventional irrigation(CI)as the control,the effects of AI on root morphology and activity,fruit yield and water and N use efficiency were studied using pot experiments.There were four combinations of irrigation levels and growing stages of tomato for AI,i.e.AI_(1)(high water(W_(H))from blooming to harvest stage(BHS)),AI_(2)(W_(H)from blooming to fruit setting stage(BFS)and low water(W_(L))at the harvest stage(HS)),AI_(3)(W_(L)at BFS and W_(H)at HS)and AI_(4)(W_(L)at BHS)at three urea rates,i.e.low urea rate(NL),middle urea rate(N_(M))and high urea rate(N_(H))in the form of urea.Irrigation quotas for W_(H)and W_(L)in AI at BFS or HS were 80%and 60%of that in CI,respectively.Compared to CI,AI decreased water consumption by 16.0%-33.1%and increased water use efficiency of yield(WUE_(y))and dry mass(WUE_(d))by 6.7%-11.9%and 10.2%-15.9%,respectively.AI_(1)did not decline yield,total N uptake(TNU)and N use efficiency(NUE)significantly.Compared to NL,N_(M)enhanced tomato yield,TNU,WUE_(y)and WUE_(d)by 28.5%,35.3%,22.6%and 16.3%,respectively.Compared to CINL,AI_(1)N_(M)reduced water consumption by 12.5%,but increased tomato yield,TNU,WUE_(y)and WUE_(d)by 35.5%,58.4%,54.4%and 53.7%,respectively.Therefore,AI_(1)can improve water use efficiency and total N uptake of tomato simultaneously at medium urea rate.

Nitrogen addition frequency and propagule pressure influence Solidago canadensis invasion into native plant community

Introduction:Propagule pressure(i.e.,the number of propagules)has long been recognized to play an essential role in plant invasion.But it is not clear whether propagule pressure influences the invasion of exotic plants into native plant communities when different frequencies of nitrogen are added.Method:We established an experiment with three plant communities that included native plant communities alone(four grasses,two legumes and two forbs)or native plant communities with one or five invasive plants,Solidago canadensis,under three frequencies of nitrogen addition(no addition or low or high addition with the same amount).Results:High propagule pressure significantly enhanced the biomass and relative dominance index of S.canadensis.Moreover,high propagule pressure only decreased the total and aboveground biomass of the legumes.However,the competitive effect between S.canadensis and the native community and biomass of the whole native community varied according to different frequencies.Conclusion:Overall,high propagule pressure encouraged invasion by S.canadensis,while alow nitrogen frequency was advantageous for the native community to resist invasion in this experiment.The results provide a scientific basis to manage and control the invasion of S.canadensis.